EAST SPENCER — The walls are up on both buildings in the new industrial center on Andrews Street in East Spencer and Salisbury-Rowan Utilities has just given approval for the planned Sheetz to attach to their lines.

The industrial center, which sits on an 80-acre parcel just around the curve from exit 79 on I-85, is being developed by Halstatt Real Estate Partners and Tectonic. In the original proposal of the two buildings, building A had a footprint of 451,980, and building B spanned 162,240 square feet. Called the Rusher Farms Industrial Complex as a nod to the former owners, there is currently a tenant for building A, though it has not yet been named.

Sheetz is expected to break ground soon and to be up and running by March, and crews have been working to widen Andrews Street at the new developments in order to accommodate the increase in traffic.

The two projects are indicative of the new growth in this small community over the last two years, which has included these commercial developments as well as housing growth.

“We have more than 100 homes that are either new construction or renovations,” said Town Manager Michael Douglas. In addition, the town has abated a number of nuisance properties, which means the town has placed liens on properties when owners are unwilling to bring properties up to code.

A public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 12 to discuss a construction proposal of 200 townhomes in the community, that will come with a conditional annexation request. Should the property sell to the proposed developer, they have asked the town to annex the property in order to allow the extension of sewer lines.

In addition, the construction of 60 homes in the proposed McCanless Village, which has been on the books for some time, will be discussed at a public hearing on Nov. 12.

“The property has been sold several times since the original proposal and the current developer is asking us to reduce the setbacks, so they can build larger houses,” Douglas said.

Under a CDBG grant designed to aid in repairs to low income and very low income houses and rehabilitation to several other homes, Douglas says rehab to five homes is 90 percent complete, and “homeowners are happy.”

Douglas has said that the town is in a growth phase and that nuisance properties are no longer being tolerated. Homeowners who know their properties need work but who need help planning or in making connections to programs or companies need only contact the town, he said.

“If people want to work with us, we will absolutely do that, but you do have to show progress, you have to show you are making efforts and improvements,” said Douglas. The town is continuing its removal and clearance of dilapidated dwelling units, and if owners do not make the necessary improvements to meet code, Douglas said the town will place a lien on the property.

“I recognize that can seem mean-spirited, but we are here to help, and we do give owners every opportunity,” but he said the town cannot continue to allow run-down or worse, dangerous properties to go unaddressed.

In another sign of proactive practices, the town is in the process of trimming tree branches around town.

“In the last two hurricanes, we have had five trees fall,” said Douglas. “The town is now spending $267,000 to trim trees to prevent damage to electrical lines before winter gets here.” He said they are working on side streets to begin, with Long Street being the last on the list, since he thinks they will run out of money before they finish, “and I have to stick to the budget.”

Finally, Douglas said there is one last improvement planned for Royal Giants Park, which has one entrance from Andrews Street and a main entrance from Long Street. The town has already made a number of additions and improvements, from the splash pad and water park to resurfaced basketball courts to an updated concession stand and new parking. The final step will be new fencing around the baseball/softball field. The town has received bids but no selections have been made yet.

“That will be the last thing at the park, at least for a while,” Douglas said. “We’ve done a lot there, and I’m proud of that park.”